Brand requests parent support

In an attempt to influence state legislators, IU President Myles Brand sent letters to families of in-state students last week asking them to contact their representatives about the state budget.\nUniversity spokeswoman Susan Dillman said the letter was sent to make parents aware of the direct impact the budget will have on students.\nFears of an impending recession have caused cautious budget estimates this year that will likely give less money to higher education. The State Budget Agency recently reported that February revenues fell $102.6 million short of projections.\nBrand said in his letter that he understood the concern about for the state's budget problems, but emphasized the importance of funding higher education. \n"For the past two decades, Indiana has devoted an ever-smaller portion of its general fund budget to higher education," Brand wrote. "… I understand the difficulties facing state leaders. Costs of some mandated programs are increasing faster than inflation. And, as a leading manufacturing state, Indiana traditionally is one of the first to feel the impact of an economic slump, so cautious budget estimates are in order. In the long run, the state must address ways that it can bring revenues in line with ongoing needs." \nThe House version of the budget bill is the "hopeful" part of the budget, Dillman said, giving IU more generous funding in its operating budget and allowing the University to borrow money for its top capital projects, including a $60 million new multi-disciplinary science building on the Bloomington campus and a $20 million student center and library at IU-Southeast.\nThe Senate version gives IU less operating money, and would place a moratorium on new construction projects.\n"We would hope that (the) Legislature would be able to find funding for the things IU has requested, not just for students, but for the whole state of Indiana," Dillman said.\nBrand urged families in his letter to convey their concerns about the budget to their legislators.\n"I urge all friends and supporters of Indiana University to closely monitor the budget process and contact your state representative and state senator about your concerns regarding these issues and about Indiana's economic future," Brand wrote.